Mechanical pencil



Aug. 22, 1933. H. H. LANG MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed Aug. 27, 1931 PatentedAug. 22, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL PENCIL of IllinoisApplication August 27, 1931. Serial No. 559,620

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in.

mechanical pencils and consists of the matters hereinafter described andmore particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention is to produce a mechanical pencil with abody or barrel to which is applied a novel and improved combinationferrule and clip at the top of the barrel for engagement with the pocketap.

Another object of the invention isto produce a combination ferrule andclip of the kind which is of economical construction and which may bereadily and easily applied to the body o1' barrel of the pencilin theprocess of assembly.

The advantages of the invention will appear more fully as I proceed withmy specification.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mechanical pencil provided with myimprovements.

Figure 2 is a view representing a partial longitudinal section throughthe pencil barrel at the top end thereof.

Figure 3 is a view representing in perspective the several parts of thepencil including the barrel, combination ferrule and clip, cap anderaser in disassembled relation.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in thedrawing:

10 indicates as a whole a mechanical pencil provided with myimprovements; 11 indicates the body or barrel containing any preferredor usual lead propeller mechanism; 12, the tip through which ispropelled the lead 13; and 14 indicates a removable cap applied to thebarrel to enclose the usual rubber or eraser placed at the top end ofsuch pencils.

15 indicates a clip adapted to engage a pocket ap in the usual manner.Said clip in this case and as illustrated is made integral with alongitudinally split ferrule 16 which is constructed to be inserted intothe top end of the barrel 11. 'I'he clip and ferrule are preferablystamped or cut from a single blank of metal. The clip part 15 is cutpartially from the part of the blank which forms the ferrule, which tothis end is cut a little more than half its length as shown. The clip istapered towards its end where enough metal is left to form into a ballor rounded end 17. It is also upset transversely throughout its lengthas indicated at 18 in Figure 2 to present a transversely curved sectionfor strength to resist bending. During its formation the clip is bentoutwardly almost at a right angle from the body of the ferrule asindicated at 19, and is then bent backward toward the longitudinal cen-(Cl. 1Z0-84) tral axis of the ferrule, so that when applied to thepencil barrel it will be inclined thereto in the desired manner forengagement with a pocket llap.

To strengthen the structure at the point where the clip is bent at rightangles away from the body of the ferrule, the metal at the top of theslits formed in cutting the sides of the detent from the blank in theneighborhood of the ferrule is cut away on each side at the top ends ofthe slits forming the holes 19a at each side thereof.

The ferrule 16 is itself finally bent to form a cylinder of a diameteradapting it to closely and snugly t within the tubular end of the barrel1l, so that when driven therein it will be Sulliciently held-there byfriction. The barrel is provided with a notch 20 at its top adapted toreceive and to be engaged by the outward bend 19 at the top of the clipand thus lock the fer- 75 rule against rotation in the barrel, asclearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The eraser 20 is shod at one end by means of a metal strap 21 bent aboutits end and partially about the lower half of its body to which it issecured by indents 22 in a familiar manner. Said shoe is formed toclosely fit Within the top end of the ferrule 16 which has the metalthereof upset as by an indent 23, where the clip is bent outwardly fromthe ferrule by one or more indents 24 on a level therewith, to arrestand form a stop against the inward movement of the shoe when insertingthe eraser, and to act as a thrust bearing for the eraser 20 when thesame is in use.

The cap 14 will enclose the eraser when applied to the projecting end ofthe ferrule 16, and will abut against the end of the barrel to present asmooth, continuous exterior of cap and barrel.

It has been found that the cap 14 may tend to bind on the projecting endof the ferrule to an extent such that when withdrawing the cap it willhave such a grip on the ferrule that it will withdraw the ferrule fromthe barrel when withdrawing the cap. To obviate this I providepreferably a sleeve 32 which is driven into the bottom end of theferrule and extends up to the point where the clip is bent away from thebody of the ferrule. The upper end of this sleeve may be used as a stopfor the eraser shoe and the detents 23 and 24 may be omitted if desired.

The slit in the ferrule not only provides for the necessary springaction of the body of the llt ferrule when engaging it within the topend of the barrel, but it also in the part of the ferrule beyond thebarrel accommodates any shrinkage that may take place in the cap. Thiscap when made of some materials is likely to have considerable shrinkageand that may always be allowed for by the width of the slit in theferrule.

I claim as my invention:-

1. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a barrel, said barrelhaving a notch at its top end, a combined clip and ferrule, said clipbeing bent outwardly from said ferrule near the middle of said ferruleand then downwardly at an angle to the central axis of said ferrule,said ferrule being adapted for insertion into said barrel, with the toppart of said clip engaged in said notch. l

2. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a pencil barrel having anotch at its top end, a combined clip and ferrule engaged in the upperend of said barrel, said clip and ferrule being stamped from a sheet ofmetal and consisting of a split tube with the clip partially cuttherefrom and depending therebelow, the clip being bent away from saidferrule intermediate its ends and then bent downwardly at an angle tothe axis of said ferrule, and the part of said ferrule below said clipbeing inserted into said barrel with the t'op of said clip engaged insaid notch.

3. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a barrel provided with anotch at its upper end, a combined ferrule and clip engaged in saidbai'- rel with the top end of said clip located in said notch, part ofsaid ferrule projecting beyond said vbarrel presenting a seat for aneraser, said ferrule being split to form a resilient seat for a cap.

4. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a barrel provided with anotch at its upper end, a combined clip and ierrule stamped from a sheetof metal and consisting of a partv bent to form a split tube which isthe ferrule, and a part cut from the bottom of the ierrule to a pointintermediate its ends, which part is bent outwardly at substantiallyright angles to said tube and then back at an inclined angle to saidtube, the part of said tube below the top of said clip being engaged insaid barrel with the clip locked in the notch in said barrel.

5. In a combined clip and ferrule, adapted for insertion in the end of apencil barrel. the same being stamped from a single piece of metal andconsisting of a part bent to form a split tube and a part extendinglongitudinally of said tube with its upper end cut therefrom, said clipbeing bent at substantially right angles to said tube and then inclinedtowards the longitudinal central axis of the said tube.

6. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a barrel provided with anotch at its upper end, a combined ferrule and clip engaged in saidbarrel with the top end of said clip located in said notch, said ferrulebeing split longitudinally and projecting beyond said barrel to presenta seat for an eraser, said ferrule being split to form a resilient seatfor a cap.

7. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a barrel provided with anopening therein, a clip engaged in said opening, a ferrule engaged insaid barrel and projecting beyond said barrel presenting a seat for aneraser, said ierrule being split longitudinally, said ferrule beingsplit to form a resilient seat for a cap.

8. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a barrel provided with anopening, a clip engaged in said opening, a ferrulc engaged in saidbarrel, said ferrule being split longitudinally and projecting beyondsaid barrel to prevent a seat for an eraser, said clip and ferrule beinglocked in said barrel against relative rotative movement.

9. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a barrel, a ferruleengaged in said barrel, said ferrule being split longitudinally andprojecting beyond said barrel to present a seat for an eraser and adetachable cap.

HERBERT H. LANG.

